Aquatic Center site, flooding discussedRussellville Mayor Randy Horton said last week that the City Council should be told a 90 percent complete price on the $5.75 million aquatic center during its January meeting. The Aquatic Center Committee met Wednesday and made a couple of changes necessary after the decision was made at a previous meeting to build a pitched roof. More geotechnical drilling must be done at the site — down to the slate — the only thing that needs to be done bef...

Community photo: Wonder Boys highlightedWonder Boys coach Raymond Monica (right) attended the Russellville Rotary Club and gave an update of the current season and highlighted local players who are making a positive impact on the team. Pictured with Coach Monica is club president Dr. John Krohn.

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Teague begins homeless challengeBy the time you read this, Fred Teague will have already started his second day as a member of Russellville’s homeless population. But it’s not because something tragic occurred in Teague’s life over the holidays, or his home was lost to a fire or flooding. One of the people behind the Russ Bus decided the only and best way to assess the relief the nonprofit organization provides to the homeless, and how to improve that relief, is to find out ...

Christmas card contest winners announcedSaint Mary’s Regional Medical Center announced the winners of the 2015 Saint Mary’s Christmas Card coloring contest. This year, the school that was selected to participate was London Elementary School. The winner of the contest won a $50 gift certificate and their artwork was placed on Saint Mary’s Christmas card, which Saint Mary’s sent to all of its physicians, volunteers and hospital managers. The winners of this years contest were Natalie ...

Community photo: Veach recognized at conventionPope County Farm Bureau past President Jeff Small (center) of Atkins received recognition for the county’s work at the 81st Arkansas Farm Bureau annual convention on Dec. 3, in Little Rock. Presenting the award are president Randy Veach (right) and vice president Rich Hillman. Each county Farm Bureau is measured in ten program areas and awarded Gold Stars for exemplary efforts. Pope County earned ten Gold Stars.

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First baby of 2016Jennifer and Joe Edwards hold their baby girl, Cora Isabel Edwards, Saturday morning at Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center. Cora was the first baby born in 2016 for Pope County. She was born at 6:37 p.m. on New Year’s Day, was 19 inches in length and weighed 5 pounds and 9 ounces.

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THE COURIER / Joshua MashonThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

SLC students share with elementary studentsStudents in the Creative Writing class at the Secondary Learning Center (SLC) recently studied children’s fiction and authored three children’s books. The student-authors then shared their work with members of Bridget Smith’s Sequoyah Elementary School class in both English and Spanish.

Community photo: Auto industry presentationDavid Rogers with ORR Auto Mall in Russellville was the guest speaker at the Russellville Kiwanis Club recently. Rogers gave a very good overview of the auto industry past, present and future.

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THE COURIER / SubmittedThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Goodbye 2015Goodbye 2015. As we close 2015, it is sad that we can’t ring out the fear gripping the hearts of Americans. No longer known as the home of the brave, the world now sees us as fearful and hating. What frightens us more: Jihadic terrorism or any and all bigotry; government regulation of guns or crazed men shooting to kill people; intrusive government regulation or climate change; too little surveillance or Big Brother; racist police or anarchy? ...

Yell, Johnson counties declared disaster areasArkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson declared Yell and Johnson counties disaster areas Wednesday and brought the list of declared counties to date to 32. As a bright sun shined throughout the Arkansas River Valley, county judges said their road crews continued to work hard to make roads passable and emergency crews had gone the extra mile to keep people safe. Yell County Judge Mark Thone said water was going down around the Danville area but continued...

Panthers take down Greenwood for 5thFrom the ally-oop dunk by Mekhi Burnett in the opening moments of the game, to the volley of 3-pointers from Logan Wood in the first half — the Clarksville Panthers controlled every aspect of their 59-55 win over the Greenwood Bulldogs on today in the fifth-place game of the 2015 Hoops for Hunger tournament inside Cyclone Arena. The Panthers opened the game on a 5-0 run that included Burnett's dunk with an assist from Wood, but the Bulldogs re...

Lady Panthers take fifth-placeThe Clarksville Lady Panthers took fifth place in the 2015 Hoops for Hunger Tournament inside Cyclone Arena with a 48-27 win over the Greenwood Lady Bulldogs on Wednesday. The Lady Panthers took a 24-12 lead by halftime. Greenwood drew first blood, but Clarksville nabbed an early lead with a 3-pointer from Maegan Payne. The Lady Bulldogs bit back for a 4-3 lead, but Samantha Childers gave the Lady Panthers a 5-4 lead. Greenwood tied the game a...

Panthers topple CAC 56-39The Central Arkasnas Christian Mustangs were no match for the Clarksville Panthers in the second round of the loser's bracket of the 2015 Hoops for Hunger tournament inside Cyclone Arena. Clarksville outpaced the Mustangs 56-39 during Tuesday's game. The Panthers took a 26-13 lead over CAC at halftime. Clarksville used an 11-0 run and an 8-0 run to more-than double their advantage over the Mustangs in the first half. The Panthers went up 7-3 w...

Lady Panthers romp past WynneThe Clarksville Lady Panthers won their game against the Wynne Lady Yellowjackets about six minutes after tip off. Clarksville (9-4) completed an 18-0 run followed by an 8-0, 9-0 and 8-0 in the first half. Wynne (3-7) scored their first bucket (from the free-throw line) with 10:31 left in the first period. Clarksville's Grace Dougan scored 20 points in the first half. Dougan put the Lady Panthers up 9-0 by herself in the opening moments of the...

Community photo: Center Valley student of the monthCenter Valley Elementary student Joy Skaggs was selected as the Student of the Month. She was recognized at the Russellville School District board meeting and received a certificate for recognition of outstanding achievement in academics and citizenship.

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Locals rescued from floodingDANVILLE — The Yell County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) performed two rescues Monday as a result of the heavy rain and floods in the area. At 9 a.m. on Monday, OEM had to rescue five people who were trapped on the roof of their house due to high water on Corinth Road in Danville. OEM and Ola Fire Department responded to another rescue call Monday when three duck hunters lost control of and capsized their boat in the flood overflow from...

Coleman to speak at Chamber banquetWalt Coleman, controller at Hiland Dairy in Little Rock and an active referee in the National Football League (NFL), will be the featured speaker at the 2016 Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce Membership Celebration and Banquet on Tuesday, February 2 inside Cyclone Arena on the campus of Russellville High School. Coleman, who is completing his 26th year as an NFL referee, has been applauded by hundreds and booed by millions. Thanks to telev...